She's big but gentle, the Yellow Garden Spider! Learn about this amazing orb-weaving arachnid and her cousins as we explore spider physiology, lifecycle, and adaptations. Inspired by Charlotte Mason, you’ll find us chasing our curiosities through our read-aloud, nature adventures, and big conversations. This Looking Glass Nature Study includes six open-and-go lesson areas to engage literature, science, outdoor studies, and the arts, filled with hands-on exploration.

Important: This is a PDF download. No physical product will be mailed to you. Print at home or your favorite printing store. Activity sheets are best printed single-sided.

I. NATURE TALES
There’s nothing more powerful than storytelling to connect us and make sense of our world. Introduce our topic with our read-aloud, Sophie's Masterpiece by Eileen Spinelli, and related discussion.

II. DISCOVER
Enrich your understanding as we begin to explore what spiders look like, their anatomy, and lifecycle with our illustrated lesson guides, vintage posters, and a variety of activities.

III. INVESTIGATE
Bring out your 'looking glass' and delve deeper into spider adaptations. Learn how silk is created and different web designs. Dive into synthetic silk inventions, catch webs, and weave our own. Explore the amazing hydraulic system behind spider movement and create a 'traveling' spider craft!

IV. POETRY & ARTS
Enjoy a related poetry study (with copywork), art study, music study, and folklore.

V. CREATE
Learn about Louise Bourgeois as we create our own spider sculptures out of foil. Bake delicious spider cookies for our poetry and tea celebration.

VI. ON THE TRAIL
These nature study activities will take you outside as you learn how spiders are different from insects, head out on a Spot the Spider Scavenger Hunt, and record our observations in our new Spider Nature Journal..

If you have any difficulty accessing your file, don’t hesitate to contact me and we will figure it out together.

From our family to yours,
Jacqueline